Methods and apparatus to mount a clip to a mounting surface

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus to mount a clip to a mounting surface are disclosed. An example clip assembly includes a clip defining a bore, a drive pin penetrating the bore, a first washer friction fit to the drive pin on a first side of the clip, and a second washer friction fit to the drive pin on a second side of the clip.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to mounting clips, and, moreparticularly, to methods and apparatus to mount a clip to a mountingsurface.

BACKGROUND

[0002] It is often desirable to mount a clip or bracket to a mountingsurface. The clip or bracket is typically used to secure another elementto the mounting surface. For example, in the cable television industry,in running cable from a distribution point to a building, it is oftendesirable to secure the cable to an exterior surface of the building.Typically, a mounting clip is used for this purpose.

[0003] Known mounting clips comprise a stamped or otherwise formed pieceof sheet metal or the like. The clip typically includes a bore forreceiving a fastener such as a screw or a pin (e.g., a nail) that isintended to be driven into the mounting surface to secure the clipthereto. Sometimes a washer is mounted to a threaded fastener between ahead of the threaded fastener and the clip to separate the head from theclip.

[0004] The clip and the fastener, and sometimes the washer are separateelements intended to be assembled at the point of installation. When aninstaller wishes to use the mounting clip, he/she must insert thefastener into the clip. The installer may drop and/or lose the fastenerand/or the clip during this assembly process, particularly in coldand/or snowy weather. Since the assembly process sometimes occurs whilethe installer is standing on a ladder, dropping the fastener and/or theclip may require the installer to dismount from the ladder to find thesame, and/or may result in discarding of the fastener, the clip, and/orboth. At a minimum, dropping the fastener and/or the clip results in anundesirable loss of time during the installation process. Similarly,requiring the installer to assembly the fastener and clip slows theinstallation process by using the installer's time

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example E drop wire clipassembly.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a front view of the example E drop wire clip assembly ofFIG. 1.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a top view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 1.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a side view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the example clip assembly ofFIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the clip assembly of FIG. 1securing a cable to a wall in an example environment of use.

[0012]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example drive ring clipassembly.

[0013]FIG. 9 is a front view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 8.

[0014]FIG. 10 is a top view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 8.

[0015]FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 8.

[0016]FIG. 12 is a side view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 8.

[0017]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an example T drop hook clipassembly.

[0018]FIG. 14 is a front view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 13.

[0019]FIG. 15 is a top view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 13.

[0020]FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 13.

[0021]FIG. 17 is a side view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 13.

[0022]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an example cable tie clipassembly.

[0023]FIG. 19 is a front view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 18.

[0024]FIG. 20 is a top view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 18.

[0025]FIG. 21 is a bottom view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 18.

[0026]FIG. 22 is a side view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 18.

[0027]FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the example clip assembly of FIG.18 shown before its tail is wrapped to secure a cable or wire.

[0028]FIG. 24 is a side view of the clip assembly of FIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example clip assembly 10. Theclip assembly 10 of FIG. 1 is an E drop wire bracket assembly that maybe used, for example, to mount a cable 11 (see FIG. 7) to a mountingsurface 13 such as the exterior of a wall. To hold a cable or wire 11,the illustrated assembly includes a clip or bracket 12. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 5, the illustrated clip 12 is shaped in a V. The lower endof the V is dimensioned to receive the cable or wire 11 and may beplasticized to avoid fraying the same. Each of the upper ends of the Vdefines a bore 14. After the cable or wire 11 is positioned within theV-shaped bracket 12, the upper ends of the V can be closed with thebores 14 in alignment to capture the cable/wire 111 within the bracket12 as shown in FIG. 7.

[0030] The clip assembly 10 of FIGS. 1-7 includes a drive pin 18 whichis sized to penetrate the aligned bores 14 and an adjacent mountingsurface 13 to secure the clip 12 and the cable/wire 11 it carries to themounting surface (see FIG. 7). As shown in FIGS. 1-6, prior to mountingthe assembly 10 to the mounting surface 13, the pin 18 is secured withinone of the two bores 14 by first and second washers 20, 22. Inparticular, a first washer 20 is friction fit onto the shaft of the pin18. The point of the pin 18 is then passed through the bore 14 until thefirst washer 22 abuts a first side of the clip 12. The second washer 22is then friction fit onto the shaft of the pin 18 in abuttingrelationship to a second side of the clip 12 such that the clip 12 issandwiched between the first and second washers 20, 22. As shown in FIG.5, when so assembled, a point of the drive pin 18 protrudes past thesecond washer 22. In the illustrated example, less than one-half of theshaft of the pin 18 extends beyond the second washer 22, althoughdifferent washer-to-shaft relationships may likewise be chosen.

[0031] Preferably the washers 20, 22 are affixed to the pin 18 such thatthey withstand at least approximately ten pounds of pressure before theywill slide along the shaft of the pin 18. In the illustrated example,this securement is achieved by an interference fit. In particular, theinner diameters of the annular washers 20, 22 are dimensioned to besubstantially the same as, or slightly smaller than, the diameter of theshaft of the pin 18. As a result, the washers 20, 22 resist movementalong the shaft of the pin 18. This resistance to movement holds the pin18 within the bore 14 of the clip 12 during sale, transport andinstallation of the clip assembly 10. As a result, the problem ofseparated fasteners and/or clips being dropped during installationpresent in prior art clip assemblies is overcome.

[0032] When an installer desires to mount the clip assembly of FIGS. 1-7to a surface, the installer bends the clip 12 and aligns the bores 14such that the pin 18 penetrates both bores 14 simultaneously. Theinstaller then uses a hammer or the like to strike the head of the pin18. Striking the pin 18 with sufficient force one or more times drivesthe point of the pin into the mounting surface 13. As the pin 18 movesinto the mounting surface 13, engagement between the washer 22 and themounting surface 13 causes the shaft of the pin 18 to slide relative tothe washers 20, 22 and the clip 12 until the head of the pin 18 abuts ornearly abuts the washer 20 as shown in FIG. 7. When installed in thisfashion, the second washer 22 is disposed between two arms of the clip12, one of the arms of the clip 12 is disposed between the two washers20, 22, and the first washer 20 is disposed between the head of the pin18 and one of the arms of the clip 12. Before the clip assembly 10 ismounted to a mounting surface 13, the head of the pin 18 is separated afirst distance from the washer 20 (see FIG. 5). After the clip assemblyis mounted to the mounting surface, the head of the pin 18 may abut thefirst washer 20 (see FIG. 7).

[0033] In the example of FIGS. 1-7, the pin 18 is an unthreaded fastenersuch as a nail. The nail may be constructed of any known material suchas, for example, hardened steel. Moreover, although the shaft of thenail 18 of FIGS. 1-7 has a substantially uniform diameter over itslength except where the nail tapers to the point, persons of ordinaryskill in the art will readily appreciate that the shaft of the nail mayhave two or more sections of different diameters and or a continuouslyvariable diameter.

[0034] After the clip assembly 10 is assembled with the pin 18 through abore 14 and the washers 20, 22 interference fit to the pin 18, theentire assembly 10 may be galvanized with, for example, a heavy zincelectroplate. The galvanization may enhance the washer's resistance tomovement along the shaft of the pin 18. Indeed, in examples wherein theinner bores of the washers 20, 22 are larger than the outer diameter ofthe shaft of the pin 18, the galzanization may provide the resistance torelative movement of the washers 20, 22 relative to the shaft of the pin18.

[0035] In the illustrated example, the washers 20, 22 have approximatelythe same outer diameter. However, persons of ordinary skill in the artwill readily appreciate that washers 20, 22 having different outerdiameters may alternatively be employed. Similarly, while in theillustrated example, the washers 20, 22 have circular perimeters,persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that one orboth of the washers 20, 22 could alternatively have a non-circularperimeter. For example, one or both of the washers 20, 22 may have ahexagonal outer perimeter. Moreover, while the illustrated washers 20,22 each define a closed bore 14, the bores 14 of the washers 20, 22 mayalternatively have an opening in a side thereof. Also, although thediameters of the illustrated bores 14 are substantially the same,washers having bores of different diameters may alternatively beemployed.

[0036] Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate thatalthough the clip 12 of FIGS. 1-7 is a V-shaped bracket for use insecuring a cable or wire 11 to a mounting surface 13, clips of othershapes and purposes may alternatively be employed. For instance, in theexample clip assembly 100 of FIGS. 8-12, the clip is implemented by adrive ring 112. The drive ring 112 is a c-shaped bracket that may beused to contain wires, cable, and the like while they are routed fromone location to another. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11, the drive ring112 defines a bore 114 by wrapping an end of the ring 112 back onitself. The bore 114 is not closed, but instead has an opening formed inone of its sides. A pin 118 is captured in this bore 114 by a pair ofwashers 120, 122 as explained above.

[0037] In the example of FIGS. 8-12, the pin 118 has a shaft including apoint. The shaft of the pin 118 also has a first section 124 having afirst diameter, a second section 126 having a second larger diameter,and a head 128. In the illustrated example, the head 128 has a smallerdiameter than the second section 126.

[0038] In the example clip assembly 200 of FIGS. 13-17, the clip isimplemented by a hook 212. In particular, the hook 212 is a T-drop hookthat may be used to support objects such as, for example, drop wireclamps from a building or other structure. The drop hook 212 includes abase 230 that defines a bore 214. The pin 218 is secured in the bore 214by a pair of washers 220, 222 as explained above.

[0039] In the example clip assembly 300 of FIGS. 18-22, the clip isimplemented by a strap or cable tie 312. The strap or cable tie 312includes a flexible tail 350 that may be wrapped around and behind adetent 353 formed from a base 354 of the strap 312 to capture a cable,wire, or group of cables and/or wires within a loop formed by the tail350. The base 354 of the strap 312 defines a bore 314 which received apin 318. The pin 318 is fixed within the bore 314 by a pair of washers320, 322 as explained above.

[0040] Any of the above clip assemblies 10, 100, 200, 300 may bemanufactured by stamping, machining, or otherwise forming the clip 12,112, 212, 312, the pin 18, 118, 218, 318 and/or the washers 20, 22, 120,122, 220, 222, 320, 322. One of the washers 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222,320, 322 may then be penetrated by the pin 18, 118, 218, 318. The clip12, 112, 212, 312 may then be penetrated by the pin 18, 118, 218, 318.The second washer 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322 may then bepenetrated by the pin 18, 118, 218, 318 to capture the clip 12, 112,212, 312 between the first and second washers 20, 22, 120, 122, 220,222, 320, 322. If desired, the entire assembly 10, 100, 200, 300 maythen be galvanized.

[0041] Any of the above clip assemblies 10, 100, 200, 300 may be used bypositioning the clip assembly 10, 100, 200, 300 adjacent a mountingsurface. Because of the washers 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322,the pin 18, 118, 218, 318 is attached to the clip 12, 112, 212, 312 andwill not separate therefrom during handling and/or installation of theclip assembly 10, 100, 200, 300. Once the clip assembly 10, 100, 200,300 is positioned in the desired location, the pin 18, 118, 218, 318 isdriven into the mounting surface such that the pin 18, 118, 218, 318moves relative to the washers 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322 andthe clip 12, 112, 212, 312 to thereby secure the clip assembly 10, 100,200, 300 to the mounting surface. The pin 18, 118, 218, 318 may bedriven into the mounting surface a distance such that the second washer20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322 engages the mounting surface, theclip 12, 112, 212, 312 engages the second washer 20, 22, 120, 122, 220,222, 320, 322, the first washer 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322engages the clip 12, 112, 212, 312, and the head of the pin 18, 118,218, 318 engages the first washer 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322.

[0042] Although certain example methods and apparatus have beendescribed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limitedthereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus andarticles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appendedclaims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clip assembly comprising: a clip defining abore; a drive pin penetrating the bore; a first washer friction fit tothe drive pin on a first side of the clip, and a second washer frictionfit to the drive pin on a second side of the clip.
 2. A clip assembly asdefined in claim 1 wherein the clip is dimensioned to mount at least oneof a cable and a wire to a mounting surface.
 3. A clip assembly asdefined in claim 1 wherein the clip comprises at least one of: a dropwire bracket, a v-shaped bracket, an E drop wire bracket, a c-shapedbracket, a ring, a hook, a drop hook, a T drop hook, a strap, a cabletie, and a cable clip.
 4. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 whereinthe drive pin comprises a nail.
 5. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1wherein the drive pin is unthreaded.
 6. A clip assembly as defined inclaim 1 wherein the first and second washers have approximately a sameouter diameter.
 7. A clip assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein thefirst and second washers each define a bore.
 8. A clip assembly asdefined in claim 7 wherein the bores of the first and second washershave approximately a same diameter.
 9. A clip assembly as defined inclaim 1 wherein the first washer has a circular outer circumference. 10.A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the first washer has anon-circular outer circumference.
 11. A clip assembly as defined inclaim 1 wherein the first washer has a first outer diameter and thesecond washer has a second outer diameter different than the first outerdiameter.
 12. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the firstand second washers slide along a shaft of the drive pin when the drivepin is driven into a mounting surface.
 13. A clip assembly as defined inclaim 1 wherein the drive pin includes a head, and the first washer ismounted between the head of the drive pin and the clip.
 14. A clipassembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive pin has a shaft havinga point, a first section having a first diameter, a second sectionhaving a second diameter, and a head.
 15. A clip assembly as defined inclaim 1 wherein the drive pin withstands approximately ten pounds pullout force without separating from the pin.
 16. A clip assembly asdefined in claim 1 wherein the drive pin includes a point that protrudesfrom the second washer.
 17. A clip assembly as defined in claim 16wherein less than one-half of the shaft extends beyond the second washerprior to mounting the clip assembly to a mounting surface.
 18. A clipassembly as defined in claim 1 wherein a head of the drive pin isseparated a first distance from the first washer prior to mounting theclip assembly to a mounting surface, and the head of the drive pinengages the first washer when the clip assembly is mounted to themounting surface.
 19. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein thedrive pin is constructed of hardened steel.
 20. A clip assembly asdefined in claim 1 wherein the clip assembly is galvanized after thefirst washer, the clip, and the second washer are mounted to the drivepin.
 21. A clip assembly comprising: a clip defining a bore; a firstwasher and a second washer; and a pin slidably secured within the boreof the clip by the first and second washers.
 22. A clip assemblycomprising: a nail; a clip; and first and second washers mounted to thenail to secure the nail to the clip.
 23. A clip assembly as defined inclaim 22 wherein the first and second washers are interference fit tothe nail.
 24. A method of manufacturing a clip assembly comprising:penetrating a first washer with a drive nail; penetrating a clip withthe drive nail; and penetrating a second washer with the drive nail tocapture the clip between the first and second washers.
 25. A method asdefined in claim 24 further comprising galvanizing the clip assembly.26. A method as defined in claim 24 wherein the clip is dimensioned tomount at least one of a cable and a wire to a mounting surface.
 27. Amethod of mounting a clip to a mounting surface comprising: positioninga clip assembly adjacent the mounting surface, the clip assembly havinga nail secured to a clip by first and second washers; and driving thenail into the mounting surface such that the nail moves relative to thefirst and second washers and the clip to thereby secure the clip to themounting surface.
 28. A method as defined in claim 27 wherein drivingthe nail into the mounting surface comprises driving the nail into themounting surface until the second washer engages the mounting surface,the clip engages the second washer, the first washer engages the clipand a head of the nail engages the first washer.